Review Summary: Beautiful, haunting, and bombastic in equal measures, Sia's breakthrough album merits all the praise it received upon release.
Tired though the adage may be, certain creative minds age like fine wine. Australian singer-songwriter Sia Furler is one of these, having struggled for international success throughout the majority of her extensive career in the music industry before exploding into the public eye through a collaboration with David Guetta. In the months following the release of "Titanium," the reclusive singer would quietly work on her sixth studio album, to be released in 2014 under the title '1000 Forms Of Fear.' This album would go on to be immensely successful, due in part to the accompanying singles receiving much radio airtime. This album is her masterpiece.
The record opens with one of modern pop's finest anthems, "Chandelier." Showcasing flamboyant vocal dynamics in the shift from its restrained verses and bombastic chorus, and also enhanced by a clear-yet-claustrophobic production, this song is something special. In essence, the subject matter is a bleak tale of somebody reaching out to alcohol to deal with depression, and the desperate wails of the titular word in the chorus pack a punch unlike anything ordinarily heard on modern radio. Other songs featuring the same merits include the sublime "Elastic Heart" and the gothic-tinged Evanesence love letter "Dressed In Black." This comparison is not one made likely, with the more intense chorus feeling like something taken from that artist's 'Fallen' album, yet it is in the extended wordless vocalizations that occupy the second half of this six minute closer where "Dressed In Black" truly excels.
Dispel any notions of this being a one trick pony, for '1000 Forms Of Fear' packs a surprising amount of variety. "Hostage" feels like a radio rock song in the vein of Avril Lavigne, whilst "Cellophane" is a very moody, fragile experience. Filling the obligatory "slow pop song" prototype established decades prior, "Straight For The Knife" is a touching demonstration of the lower range of Sia's vocals. Both "Fire Meets Gasoline" and "Free The Animal" provide the second half of the record with an injection of energy and quicker pace, where "Burn The Pages" did the same in the first half following on from the crawling-yet-brilliant "Big Girls Cry." Whilst the album itself is a truly earth-shattering experience, individual tracks are not devoid of their standout moments either, with "Eye Of The Needle" containing a prolonged higher pitched note that could melt a heart, and "Fire Meets Gasoline" containing a punchy chorus almost a match for the aforementioned "Chandelier."
'1000 Forms Of Fear' is a slick masterpiece of its genre, and whilst those uninterested in pop music's formulaic approach to songwriting may not be won over, people more open to such joys will find much to like here. Greg Kurstin and co. deserve massive credit for providing a production that allows the music to sound crystal clear and yet echo some of the harrowing emotion poured in by historically-depressed and alcohol-dependent Sia, and the singer herself excelled here. If on the fence, turn on the opening moments of "Chandelier," and take it from there. It will not be a decision regretted.
